NOTE: The following is from a continuing Plainview Herald series that highlights the distinct stories of local entrepreneurs.

For many with dreams of taking the leap and opening their own business, the thought of actually following through can be a little frightening — especially when it comes to providing for the financial future.

Betting on oneself when it comes to becoming an entrepreneur is a bet that keeps many from even taking the smallest jump toward their goal.

But for Ruth Gonzales, owner of RuRu’s Kloset, her well-supported leap of faith has paid off in Plainview as her clothing store has already outgrown three locations in just under two years.

“I’ve just been really, really blessed,” said Gonzales, who opened up her trendy consignment store in August 2012 in a small retail space in downtown Plainview.

Since then, Gonzales has moved into a bigger location at 1001 N. I-27, Suite 222, which is still filled from wall-to-wall with stylish fashions and accessories, many coming from more than 220 different resale providers.

“We try to put out the trendiest items,” said Gonzales, who explained that she tries to keep her inventory within the last two fashion seasons.

“And they are in great condition,” Gonzales added.

Gonzales’ successful store had humble beginnings as she worked full-time in the front office of Thunderbird Elementary while opening her budding business.

No stranger to hard work, Gonzales worked two jobs in the early years as she worked in medical billing, while also moonlighting as a beautician.

Heavily involved in the school activities of her four children, Victoria, Rebeka, Gabriel Lee and Aaron, Gonzales opted to accept a job at Thunderbird’s front office.

“I guess I just wanted to be with the kids,” said Gonzales, who worked at the school for 15 years before operating RuRu’s Kloset full-time.

But though she was comfortable with her position at the school, Gonzales said she had always wanted to own her very own business at one point.

“I was always a good salesperson,” said Gonzales, laughing as she explained she sold Avon in the past, and was even one of the top sellers of Girl Scout cookies when she was younger.

The idea of what she would do for her business came quite easily, as she remembers taking trips to San Antonio and visiting large resale shops with her aunt.

With a keen eye for fashion and ideas in mind, Gonzales said she was fired up to open her version of a consignment boutique, but financial issues and uncertainty in the economy more than often made her hesitant to jump.

According to Gonzales, it wasn’t until husband Gabriel really pushed her to follow her dreams that she decided to take the leap to a new future.

“He really supported me and pushed me,” Gonzales said. “I was scared, but I wanted to see if it was going to work for me.”

Keeping her job at Thunderbird, Gonzales started small, opening her first place in a quaint space across from the Broadway Brew Coffee Shop.

With a simple business concept, RuRu’s Kloset was a resale store that would sell another person’s clothing, and the two would split the profits.

With very little money to buy inventory, Gonzales said she had help with consignment clothing from family, friends and her colleagues at Thunderbird Elementary.

“They really helped me a lot at the beginning,” said Gonzales, who said she was also blessed with donated clothing racks.

RuRu’s Kloset also sold new items like purses, jewelry and shoes.

Business hit the ground running as word of mouth spread about the trendy selections of the Kloset.

Just five months after first opening her doors, Gonzales said she had to move next door for more space as inventory was coming in as quickly as it was going out.

“We just outgrew it,” Gonzales said. “It felt great.”

Though the closure of Cargill shook her confidence, Gonzales kept plowing along with the faith that the storm would pass.

The clouds would part, and eventually Gonzales moved to her current location in August 2013, which offers everything from apparel to evening gowns, jewelry to shoes, and much more.

“We get customers from all over the place,” said Gonzales, explaining that she had clientele from all over West Texas as well as the Metroplex and Oklahoma to name a few.

In the back, Gonzales has top clothing selections that she rotates to the store front. Anything that she doesn’t sell after a period of time is graciously donated to Plainview’s Crisis Center or to churches.

Though she has a distinct fashion sense, Gonzales says one of the keys to her success may come from the way the store treats people.

“We treat people like family,” said Gonzales, who even offers a loyalty reward program for customers.

In the near future, Gonzales says she plans to expand and contemplates opening another store specializing in children’s and men’s clothing.

“I’m very grateful for the people that have helped us, and the store is just getting bigger,” Gonzales said. “I’ve also made some really great friends after opening the store.”

To check out RuRu’s Kloset for yourself, the store is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.